Lav Shootout! Rode, Tram, Sanken & Sennheiser

Here's an interview I just conducted where the subject was a male, and I used the Rode Lav, with the included furry. It sounds pretty good! You can barely see the furry at the top right of the zipper, near the collar.

 
I am new to audio, but to me the Rode and Sanken were definitely the best sounding two mics of these four lavs. I work in the used department of a major audio/video retailer, and I kept hearing about how great the Sennheisers were, specifically the ME-2 and the ME-66. I hadn't really heard them myself. But now I see how wrong I was. The Sennheiser sounded kind of hollow. When it comes time for me to pick up my own lavs, I see myself leaning towards the Rode or Sanken.
 
Good call Johnny! The ME66 is nothing to write home about either. You can get a better shotgun for less with the Rode NTG-2.
 
I'm getting ready to take the plunge on my first audio gear. I'm going with the NTG-3, after hearing several examples. Yours was just the icing, comparing the NTG-3 to the Lavs. The kind of stuff I plan on shooting will be served well by a decent lav (My friend loves to give the "facts" about local landmarks and such here in NYC, and anytime we've done it, we've been working with subpar equipment.).
 
cool Chad, thanks for the exterior video! Youtube quality but good enough to tell the Rode does its job well.

johnnyevil, don't be fooled by the ME-2 and ME-66 mics. These don't deserve the Sennheiser name. Basically don't touch anything that starts with "ME", while "MK", as in MKH 416 (shotgun) or MKE 2 (lav) are top quality microphones and some of the most robust in terms of bad weather conditions!
 
Sonidista, don't worry. I caught that. I was considering some of the MKH's as well. In fact, my company got an MKH40 in used for $799. I was tempted, but I have heard no samples of it yet, though I know that the MKH Sennheisers are excellent.

It's like with anything, even a good company can have some dog products. I helped a friend create a short at the beginning of the summer. His friend provided the mic, and we used an ME66, and I remember thinking even then that it was sort of hollow sounding. And considering what my trainer told me when I first was put in the used video department, I was surprised at how crappy it sounded.

However, I realize for the super low budget of the main purchaser, they often don't care how things sound. Which is a shame, cause I'll turn off a good program if the audio goes sour, whereas I will sit through low res video if I can hear it clearly and the content is good.
 
Hi Chad, your certainly covering a lot of bases with your tests. Good to see someone in the forum doing these things. I was wondering though, one of the lavs I reach for more often than not these days is the Sony ECM88 (I also have cos 11's), most of the networks here in Australia use them, but I never hear mention of them. Comparatively I find them rather good. Any chance you can include one in a future side by side?
 
Hi Noel. I only shoot-out what I have, and I don't have that. C2V may send me a Countryman B6 after the new year to test. Maybe if someone sends me a sony ECM88 wired for Sennheiser... Can't say for sure. It takes a lot of energy to make one of these at a pro level with proper research, then lighting, and working on my presenting skills. But it's not off the table. It's just that I work with what I have.
 
love the shoot out. I've been wanting a new lav and was saving for the sanken but I think i'm gonna go with the RODE instead. I've got the NTG-3 and it sounds like butter so I'd love my lav to compliment that. Do you know if there's a connection for Lectros along with the other connections?
 
I have put in a query about the lectro adapter. Rode is closed until after the 11th. It may be that Lectro doesn't want them to make an adapter. I don't know. Any-hoo, I will report back when I get an answer.
 
sonidista said:
why not? can't be so hard for them to do... many folks are waiting for that with their purchase I guess.
Click to expand...

DaCappo connectors are the same as the RODE micon connectors. I have tested them and they work with the RODE lavalier. You can find a list of the connectors here http://da-cappo.com/product.php?PID=5&name=Adapters We're still waiting for the RODE lavs to reach the US. Should anyone want to pre-order a RODE lav with Lectro adapter, I'll include one at no charge. Just note it in the comments during checkout.
 
Probably. You should speak to a Rode dealer. I would imagine that the AT wireless transmitter has a form of plug-in power, like the Sennheiser does, to power the lav, and that adapter allows that to happen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top